Striking workers from Central West Specialized Developmental Services held an information picket in downtown Oakville on Wednesday afternoon to draw attention to the 14-week long strike, the impact on local community, and the urgent need for their employer to settle a fair deal with workers.“We are here today in community spaces we’ve visited for years with the people we support,” said Julie Geiss, President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 249. “Our work helps people with developmental disabilities thrive and live in dignity – from supporting residents in group homes to connecting families with programs and services. We are here because this matters to the community of Oakville. We are members of this community and the people we support are members of this community.”More than 240 workers at Central West Specialized Developmental Services support adults with developmental disabilities across Oakville and Halton Region. Workers were seeking modest wage increases to keep up with the cost of living and give them comparable wages to their counterparts when CWSDS management took aggressive actions. These included filing for a No Board report, putting workers in a lockout position for weeks, and relocating residents with disabilities from their group homes – by doing so, forcing workers and clients into conditions that workers and families described as deeply unsafe and overcrowded. Workers were also forced to train individuals from private staffing agencies to replace them. Workers went on strike on November 19, 2025, for fair wages, respect and safe working conditions.“We worry every day about the people we support,” said Vanessa Edwards, Vice-President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 249. “Progress is being lost. We’ve seen how people thrive in group homes with skilled workers who know them and their needs. The conditions at 53 Bond Street are crowded and stressful. It hurts us to be out here – but in bargaining, we’ve moved multiple times to try to get to a deal. Now, we need our employer to return to the table so we can reach a fair deal and get back to caring for our community.”“We have to be able to support ourselves so we can continue to support others,” added Julie Geiss. “What our employer is offering amounts to a 1.4% annual wage increase. Our members are struggling to make ends meet, working second jobs or worrying about cost of gas to get to work.”The union and the employer met in January with a mediator. OPSEU/SEFPO proposed mediation again on February 12 with a seasoned mediator, but management refused. The union is calling on management to return to the table and negotiate a fair agreement.
Quick Links